Wiki Central:Creating Collaboration and Engagement in Biology

Louise Maine, Punxsutawney Area High School

Links

mrsmaine.wikispaces.com mrswolfgang.wikispaces.com cloelake.wikispaces.com animalplanet.wikispaces.com

Values and goals

Inquiry Research Presentation Collaboration Reflection Use information in production, understanding,

and application of content – UbD What about the concept is useful, interesting,

and essential – work backwards to design instruction

Alter activities to align to values

Inquiry

Alter activities to align to values

Inquiry

Wiki as a classroom hub

Assignment links Easily embed web 2.0 tools Build units and edit easily Student generated content easy

to create and see Easy to follow hierarchy of

material that is organized

Podcast lectures and Resources

Resources easily located by students

Student work

Create content using moticams

Student work

Reflection and creation of materials to apply learning

Student work

Develop content through exploration

Student work

Variety of ways to express information

Student work

Student podcasts, newsletters, or other media on chosen topics

Create a resource section

Resources of commonly asked questions and tutorials for student use

Discussion

Create discussion and collaboration within or between classes

[Inquiry] Assessments

[Lab activity] Assessments

[Lab activity] Assessments

[Group evaluation] Assessments

[Project progress] Assessments

[Reflection] Assessments

[Lab project] Assessments

Combining lab techniques learned, presentation of material, and extending of knowledge

Create new teams as needed

Each student has an individual page and can create and link to new teams

Management

Check individual

and group actionsthrough use of history and checklists

Projects and activities

White tail deer

management

Projects and activities

Biomes of

the Earth

Projects and activities

Biodiversity

Projects and activities

Watershed exploration

Projects and activities

Wiki as a textbook:

Class notes Resources Documents Assignments Notebook/portfolio

for students Other links

Projects and activities

Portfolios of work

Projects and activities

Portfolios of work

Voicethread thoughts from students

Link to voicethread

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

Using Mastery

•Opportunities to redo inquiry and application assessments to meet learning targets •80% is level for mastery•Not for incomplete assignments•Students use of redo declined over time

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

Self-evaluation

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

Express yourself

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

Variety of assignments

•Inquiry type activities•Traditional lab based activities•Posters – Digital and conventional•Drawings•Creative writing•Podcasts and iMovies•Reflection•Activities that apply information learned

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

Analyze and apply

•Analyzing and applying information is difficult•Patience is needed as they learn what you require•Mastery allows opportunities to meet the criteria•Choice in data sets allow students to choose what interests them•Encourage questioning and thinking•Create a culture of respect in the classroom•Model the practice of analyzing and applying•Remove the idea of one authority of knowledge

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS

Teacher reflection

•Ideally, a student portfolio where they own the site vs. using the class site•More variety in activities•Watch for time wasters – more project checkpoints/documentation•Self-evaluation where evidence is produced•Peer evaluation of group work for data collecting•Keep individual portions of group work for analysis of data•Better ways of connecting concepts together•Less team page and more individual page entries•More “hooks” to introduce the concepts

Contact information

Louise Maine lmmaine@gmail.com Blog: hurricanemaine.blogspot.com Twitter: @hurricanemaine Second life: Ludovica Muhindra World of Warcraft:

Server: Sisters of Elune The Alliance Character: Huricaine